Golf instruction apparatus



June 26, 1962 R. TAYLOR 3,041,075

GOLF INSTRUCTION APPARATUS Filed April 25. 1960 1N VEN TOR.

ROBE/7f L fin on BY fwfia /mydah azqarneys United States Patent 3,041,075 GOLF INSTRUCTION APPARATUS Robert L. Taylor, 121 Patricia Drive, Kokorno, Ind. Filed Apr. 25, 1960, Ser. No. 24,376 1 Claim. (Cl. 273-187) The present invention relates to a new and novel golf instruction apparatus which permits effective training for the proper use of any golf club.

As is known, a golf game cannot be perfected when each shot with the same club is made with a different address to the golf ball. Only by a repetition of position and swing can the golfer become familiar enough with the proper stance so that it will become a natural procedure to continually and properly address the ball. Previously, and notwithstanding the above-stated objectives, it has been customary for many golfers approaching a shot to change position several times before swinging, indicating a degree of unfamiliarity with either the club or the direction the ball might take after being hit.

By virtue of the instant invention, the applicant has invented a new and novel golf instruction apparatus which is designed to train the golfer to swing with the same club from the same position and stance and, moreover, to perfect an easy natural swing and an address best suited for the players golfing style. Briefly, the instant golf instruction apparatus comprises a base member having a series of openings disposed adjacent an edge thereof, which openings are adapted to receive foot guide members which are retained in position by auxiliary members extending between the foot guide members and the base member. The openings are numbered so that once a stance has been determined for any given club, through instruction, the stance can be readily repeated by choosing the same numbers for the components forming the apparatus.

In addition, a tee guide is secured to the base member wherein, by a colored identification system, the same setting of the tee for any golf club can be quickly determined. Moreover, to assist the golfer in remembering the position the ball will assume upon being hit, a rotatable ball flight indicator is provided on the base member, which ball flight indicator also includes numerical settings which can be correlated to the particular golf club being used.

Accordingly, the principal object of the present invention is to provide a new and novel golf instruction apparatus whereby the student may be simply and effectively trained for a continuous proper use of any golf club.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a new and novel golf instruction apparatus having indicia thereon so that the proper use of any golf club may be simply and effectively learned, and readily repeated, by the golf student.

Another and more general object of the present invention is to provide a new and novel golf instruction apparatus having a minimum number of components which are readily assembled for the students use.

Other objects and a better understanding of the present invention will become more apparent from the following description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, Wherein FIG. 1 is a plan view of the golf instruction apparatus forming the instant invention;

FIG. 2 is a view in vertical section, taken at line 22 of FIG. 1 and looking in the direction of the arrows, showing further details of the apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a view in vertical section, partly fragmentary, taken at line 33 of FIG. 1 and looking in the direction of the arrows, showing the tee positioning device forming a part of the instant invention; and,

FIG. 4 is a detailed view in vertical section, taken at line 4-4 of FIG. 1 and looking in the direction of the arrows, showing details of the means provided for positioning the golf instruction apparatus during use.

For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of the invention, reference will now be made to the embodiment illustrated in the drawing and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended, such alterations and further modifications in the illustrated device, and such further applications of the principles of the invention as illustrated therein being contemplated as would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the invention relates.

Referring now to the figures, the applicants novel golf instruction apparatus 10 comprises a generally elongated base member 11 which, in a typical embodiment of the invention, is made from a flexible plastic type material, such material, of course, providing for the ready portability thereof. The base member 11 includes a series of numbered openings 12 disposed along one edge thereof and another series of numbered openings 14 disposed along the same edge (see FIG. 1). The base member 11 also includes openings 15 which are adapted to receive positioning means, such as tees 16, to readily place the base member 11 for use (see FIG. 4). In addition to the above, the base member 11 has a ball flight indicator 18 rotatably disposed thereon and, associated therewith, a series of markings representing particular settings of the indicator 18.

The apparatus further comprises foot guide members 20 and 21, each of which has a button type connector member 20a and 21a, respectively, disposed at one end and adapted to be selectively received in the numbered openings 12 and 14 in base member 11. It should be understood from the drawing that the foot guide members 20 and 21 are so shaped at 20b and 21b, respectively, so as to generally conform to the outer shape of each of the golfers shoes. Each of the guide members 20 and 21 also includes a series of numbered openings 20c and 210, respectively, therein, which openings are adapted to receive button type connectors 25a and 26a respectively disposed at an end of positioning or auxiliary members 25 and 26, Where button type connectors 25b and 26b at the other end of the positioning members 25 and 26, respectively, are received in the numbered openings 12 and 14 in the base member 11. It should be obvious that the positioning members 25 and 26 serve to maintain the foot guide members 20 and 21 in the desired position with reference to the base member 11, and at the same time, provide effective means for repeating the position thereof.

A tee guide assembly 30 is releasably secured to the base member 11 by means of adjustable fasteners 30a which hook into openings 19 therein. The tee guide assembly 30 comprises a nonshrinking type cord 30b connected to the aforesaid adjustable fasteners 30a and a tee 30c which is looped between a portion thereof. The novel use of the latter will be discussed in detail herebelow.

In use, the base member 11 is positioned on a practice area or on the course, for example, by the use of tees 16 which are inserted through the openings 15 therein. The foot guide members 20 and 21 are then positioned with respect to each other and with respect to the base member 11 so that the desired stance of the golfer is achieved, and

the positioning members 25 and 26 are then secured thereto at 25a and 26a, respectively, and to the openings 12 and 14 in the base member 11 at 25b and 26b, respectively, to retain such desired position. It should be understood that once the desired stance has been determined for any particular golf club, the foot guide members 20 and 21, as well as the positioning members 25 and 26, are readily replaced at such position by noting the combina- 3 tion of numerals on the openings 12 and 14 in base member 11 and on the foot guide members 20 and 21 and, of course, assembling the components at the same numerals.

The tee guide assembly 30 is then secured to the base member 11 by means of the adjustable fasteners 30a which hook into the openings 19 therein and, in the instance of an original setting, the cord 3% is slipped back and forth with reference to the fasteners 30a. When the desired position is reached, the tee guide assembly 30, and hence the tee 300, is locked at such position by tightening the cord 30b in the fasteners 30a.

In a typical embodiment of the invention, the golf instruction apparatus is supplied with tee guide assemblies 30 using various colored cords 3% representing the preselected positions for diiferent golf clubs, so that, for example, when the golfer uses a number club, he knows that the red colored tee guide assembly 30 should be utilized, so that the golf ball is'properly positioned for swinging. Of course, after locating the tee position, the

tee guide assembly 30 may be moved aside while swinging and then re-used when positioning is again necessary.

In addition to the above, the ball flight indicator 18 is rotated so that the golfer can tell the direction in which the golf ball will travel when properly hit, such direction, of course, varying with the club selected.

The above-noted instructions can be etfectively and repeatedly carried out, until thoroughly learned, by the assistance of a card (not shown) which identifies the number of each club and the following information correlated to each of the clubs: the respective numbers of the openings employed with regard to the foot guide members 20 and 21 and the positioning members 25 and 26, the number of the ball flight indicator 18, and the color of the cord 3% of the tee guide assembly 30.

From the preceding it should be apparent that the applicant has provided a new and novel golf instruction apparatus whereby the user can readily efifect the proper stance and address of a golf ball with any particular golf club. Once the trainee is shown the proper stance for each club, the applicants invention permits the repetition thereof until the instruction is complete and the swinging perfected. As should be understood, the invention is readily assembled and the material of which it is formed lends itself to the desired portability for use. The invention is susceptible to modification in form and shape, for example, and, hence, the above description should be considered illustrative and not as limiting the scope of the following claim.

I claim:

A golf instruction apparatus comprising, in combination, a base member having a series of holes disposed along a portion thereof, a foot guide member having a connector element thereon adapted to be detachably and selectively received in said holes in said base member, said foot guide member having a series of holes disposed along a portion thereof, and an auxiliary member extending between said base member and said foot guide member, said auxiliary member having connector elements thereon adapted to be detachably and selectively received in said holes in said 'base member and in said foot guide member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,717,318 Pugh June 11, 1929 2,457,351 Crowley Dec. 28, 1948 2,652,251 Molinar Sept. 15, 1953 2,790,642 Rolfe Apr. 30, 1957 2,941,808 Smith et a1. June 21, 1960 FOREIGN PATENTS 16,93 0 Great Britain 1911 591,840 Great Britain Aug. 29, 1947 

